Last Minute Massage Blog

This is the second part of a series of blogs that is going to involve how to massage a person with different skin conditions and disablitlities.  Coming in contact with different skin  conditions and disabilities happens to a masage therapist frequently.  Each type of  condition and patient is different and each should be handled with care differently.

Psoriaisis is another common skin disease that affect the life of the skin cells.  Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes the skin cells to build up rapidly on the suface, too fast for the old skin cells to die and shed off.   This causies thick, red pathces that are itchy, dry and sometimes painful.  Some other symptoms are pitted, rigid nails and dry, cracked skin that may bleed.

There are several types of psoriasis that affect different parts of the body.

1.  Plaque (the most common type of psoriasis)
2.  Nail
3.  Scalp
4.  Guttate (most common in young adults and children)
5.  Inverse (this is most common in overwiegth people and from high friction)
6.  Pustular (this is blistering psoriasis.  Most common on hands, fingetips and feet)
7.  Erythrodermic (least common type of psoriasis.  This covers the entire body and is extremely painful)
8.  Psoriatic Arthritis

When you go to the doctor to get ttreatments, they can give you topical conditioners, oral medications or you can try aloe vera, capasicin cream or fish oils.  You can also try yo treat the conditon by eating special diets and ingesting different herbs such a tumeric.

Since psoriasis is caused by a faulty immune system, it is not contagious and can not be contracted via skin to skin contact.

 Massage may help with this skin condition by the use of the opils and actually being able to knead them in softly and gently.  This is also how you should massage someone with psoriasis. make sure to be gnelte, do not use any oils containing an acid (lemon, orange, etc.) as that may worsen the condition.

Thank you

Tiffany
LMM